Councilor fails to remind residents tolls will be required to get third bridge built

West Salem City Councilor Jim Lewis wants a new bridge in Salem, and he knows that the only way to pay for the bridge is through tolls.

The federal and state governments have told the city that they will only pay for a small part of the $500 million cost of the bridge project. Marion and Polk county voters will not approve higher taxes on property or gas to pay for a new bridge.

The Salem River Crossing project documents show that tolls are the only way to pay for a bridge.

So, if Councilor Lewis wants a new bridge, he must be willing to have us pay for a new bridge by requiring tolls on all of Salem’s bridges over the Willamette River.

He is treating his constituents as simpletons by telling them they can have a bridge without paying for it.